Menu

Free 200+ Page eBook

Top 57 Places to Live & Invest in the Tropics

Quickly find out which country is right for you.
No-hype updates & resource guides. No Spam. Ever.
Limited offer. Instant Download.

Join More than 58,187 people who are breaking free


we value your privacy

Hot Real Estate Offer

An Inside Look at the Panama Economy

panama-economy

Martha de Jong

If you’ve done much reading about the state of the Panama economy, you probably already know that it’s “stable” and “growing” and “pro-business” and maybe even “foreigner-friendly.”

But what’s the basis for these types of claims?  What is it that really drives Panama’s economy, and how is it performing during some globally tough economic times?

Panama Economy Overview

Panama has a dollar-based economy that is heavily dependent on the services sector.  Namely logistics, banking, tourism, and of course the Panama Canal.  In fact, services account for over ¾ of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

With an estimated GDP of $30.68 Billion as of the end of 2012, Panama’s economy is the third largest in Central America and the fastest growing, racking up a whopping 10.7% increase last year (its second consecutive double-digit growth rate).  GDP per capita is around $9,444 and has more than doubled over the past decade.

The general composition of Panama’s GDP is 79.1% services, 16.6% industry, and 4.3% agriculture.  Transport and communications make up the biggest chunk of the service arena, followed by property and services, commerce, and financial services.  Here’s a breakdown of all areas and the percentage of GDP they represent:

Private Education    .7%

Social Services/Private Healthcare    .8%

Fishing  1.1%

Mining/Quarrying  1.4%

Utilities  2.8%

Farming, cattle ranching, hunting, and forestry  3.2%

Real estate, corporate, and rental activities  5.2%

Manufacturing  5.6%

Construction  5.8%

Financial intermediation  8.2%

Banking  8.6%

Wholesale and retail 14.6%

Transport, storing, and telecommunications 26.4%

The Panama Canal

It’s interesting to note that the Panama Canal itself accounts for only 4% of the nation’s GDP.  However, due to the multiplier effect, its impact is much farther-reaching.  Take into consideration, for example, expenditures by canal employees.  Their income in turn fuels businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and other businesses.  As a result it’s estimated that the existence of the canal generates approximately 30% of the country’s GDP.

The Canal is currently undergoing a $5.5 billion expansion that will more than double its capacity.  Begun in 2009, this expansion has already contributed greatly to the nation’s economic growth.  Transport, storage, and communications increased by 15.3% in 2010.  Port operations during that same time frame also rose by 25.2% due to the increased movement of 20-foot containers.

With the completion of the expansion scheduled for 2014, additional growth is anticipated.  Some estimate that 40% of the $5.5 investment will be recouped in the next 5 years.

panama-economy

Tom Geibel

Imports/Exports

Approximately 65.2% of Panama’s GDP is exported, in the form of both goods and services.  The $12.52 billion that is exported annually is made up of bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, and clothing which ship mainly to the U.S. (13.1%).  Other recipients of these goods include South Korea (12.5%), Honduras (10.2%), Japan (9.3%), India (7%), Canada (4.4%), and Mexico (4.2%).

Panama imports roughly $15.18 billion each year, which includes fuel products, medicines, vehicles, iron and steel rods, and cellular phones.  These come from Japan (23.5%), China (23%), Singapore (18.1%), the U.S. (13%), and South Korea (6%).  Because it imports more than it exports, Panama has a negative trade balance, or trade deficit, of -12.7%.

Debt

Panama’s ratio of public debt as a percentage of GDP is a relatively low 39.2%.  This number is down drastically from 66.2% in 2005, due to fiscal consolidations by the current administration.  Panama’s Standard & Poor’s bond rating is BBB.  It also received a Moody’s credit rating of Baa2 with an outlook of Stable.  This positions Panama among the highest ranking emerging markets, alongside Mexico, Brazil, and Peru.

Inflation

Panama’s inflation rate, which has been as high as 6.82% several months ago, was down to 4.1% as of March 2013.  This rate fluctuates greatly in Panama’s dollarized economy, since the country lacks the ability to implement policy or adjust exchange rates to counteract rising consumer prices.  Panama’s inflation rate has generally averaged around 5.24% for the past 5 years.

Unemployment

Panama’s unemployment situation is a unique one.  Although generally low (it’s hovered around 4.2% for the past 3 years), it’s also unbalanced.  While Panama experiences a surplus of unskilled labor, it also has a shortage of skilled labor.

Efforts are currently underway to address this problem.  Millions are being invested into education to build a strong, skilled labor pool.  In the interim, the country is welcoming business professionals from other “friendly” countries to come to work or start a business in Panama.  This is quite a shift, since Panama has historically taken great care to prevent foreigners from taking jobs away from Panamanians.

Business Climate

Panama continues to rank higher and higher on surveys citing the best places to do business.  It recently appeared at #57 on Forbes’ list of Best Countries for Business.  Panama also ranked 40th (out of 144 countries) for Global Competitiveness per the World Economic Forum.

World Bank and the International Finance Corporation ranked it #72 (out of 183 countries) on a list of Best Countries for Doing Business.  The same survey scored it as #11 for Trading across the Border, #23 for Starting a Business, and #32 for Getting Credit.  However, it fell to #113 in the same survey for Registering Property and #119 for Enforcing Contracts.

Panama was also given a rank of #71 by the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation on its Index of Economic Freedom.  It scored a 62.5 on the index, where 100 = totally free and 0 = totally repressed.  This survey measured freedom in a variety of areas.  Panama’s lowest scores were the result of governmental corruption and political interference in the judicial system.

Economic Challenges

Like any developing nation, Panama has and will continue to face a myriad of economic challenges.  Many are merely the flip side of the same coin that has led to its economic growth.  For instance, Panama’s economy is extremely open.  As a result, it is highly susceptible to external factors.  Fluctuations such as a decreased demand for exports to the U.S. or a smaller flow of capital into Panamanian banks could have huge implications for the nation’s economy.

Panama is also plagued by high poverty and inequality of income distribution (the second worst in Central America), so it has a tremendous need for sustained growth that is socially inclusive.  As previously mentioned, the country has begun to address the issue and is currently investing heavily in its educational and vocational programs.

This brings us to the issue of government spending.  As it grows, Panama will continue to struggle with the need to strike a balance between investing in more and better improvements while also maintaining good fiscal management and eliminating corruption from the projects it undertakes.  While these enhancements are warranted if Panama expects to keep up with other major players in the areas of tourism and banking, the nation will have to be prepared to take measures to sustain its economy, such as raising taxes.

Outlook

In terms of its economic outlook, Panama has a lot of good things going.  Its recent $15 billion investment into infrastructure has and will continue to fuel many investment opportunities.  Airport expansions will bring more visitors to the country.  Better roads and methods of transportation will ease companies’ ability to do business within the country.  Additional utilities, such as water, power, and phone service, will add value to real estate.

Panama recently signed Free Trade Agreements with the U.S., Canada, and the European Union.  Proposed mining projects will also give the economy a boost.  Not to mention the Canal, which will more than double its capacity with the current improvements.

If Panama continues to post 10%+ growth, it could soon be poised to earn its slot as the largest economy in Central America.  If you’re considering investing or starting a business in Central America, find out more about Panama and the options it offers.

More Numbers

Just in case there’s some other piece of information you’d like to know, that we haven’t already covered, here are a few more statistics on Panama’s economic profile (as of 2012):

Gross Domestic Product (Purchasing Power Parity) $55.8 billion

GDP per capita (PPP) $15,300

Population 3,571,185

Population below poverty line 29%

Investment 30.1% of GDP

Taxes and other revenues 26.5% of GDP

Budget Deficit or Surplus -2.9% of GDP

Commercial bank prime lending rate 6.6%

Market value of publicly traded shares $10.68 billion

Industrial production growth rate 10.9%

Current account balance -$4.191 billion

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold $3.314 billion

External debt $13.13 billion

 

Up Next

7 of the Top Places U.S. Expats Are Living in Latin America (and Why)

New data shows where U.S. expats are residing all across the globe. Many of the top destinations are in nearby Latin America. Find out why. (Read It)

Central America's Best Real Estate Buy

Don't miss this up and commer. It has the tropical lifestyle, stunning beauty, and smokin appreciation potential. (Read It)

The World’s Top 10 Best Places to Put Your Money

Offshore banking isn't just for the super rich. But how does the average Joe decide where to put his money? Here are the world's top banking jurisdictions. (Read It)

Nosara, Costa Rica Everything You Need to Know. I Mean Everything.

Imagine a small, beautiful beach town surrounded by jungle and wildlife with a peaceful multicultural community and many of the comforts of home. That place, named by National Geographic as one of the top surf …

(Read It)
panama city panama real estate update

Panama City, Panama Real Estate Market Update

Today we have a guest post written by Kent Davis, owner of one of the most successful real estate brokerages in Panama City The Panama City real estate market may have finally taken a turn in …

(Read It)
costa rica websites

Top 133 Costa Rica Websites for Expats and Investors

Did you know there are dozens and dozens of great resources on Costa Rica for expats and investors? Sure, we have a ton of resources for Costa Rica on our site, and a whole bunch …

(Read It)

The Truth about Living in Costa Rica: The Good, the Bad, and the Muddy

It's easy to find tons of articles and information out there highlighting all the great benefits of living in Costa Rica. But it's also easy to read those blogs and marketing pieces and think, "Yeah, it …

(Read It)

Why Nosara, Costa Rica Is Not Your Average Surfing Town

A deeper look at Nosara and its history will quickly reveal that this long-time mecca for surfing enthusiasts offers so much more than just the sand and sea. The increasing interest in the area as a …

(Read It)

Expats Are Still Falling in Love with Nosara and Here’s Why

What was once the up-and-coming expat haven of Nosara, Costa Rica, has blossomed into one of Costa Rica's most established expat communities that continues to be ranked near the top of the list of most desirable destinations in the Latin …

(Read It)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hot Real Estate Offer

Real Estate In The Area

WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.